#Hammer Of Thor Best Price

[ellephlox]

Embers and Ashes

Pairing: Matt Murdock x Fem!Reader

Summary: It's not easy to keep a low profile when you've got the power to heal, but you've managed to carve out a home for yourself in Hell's Kitchen. By day you're an assistant at a literary agency, and by night you mend broken bones and bloody cuts. It's a double life that constantly forces you to question your morality, because the wounds you seem to magically heal don't vanish forever — they've got to eventually go somewhere.

But after you make the mistake of healing the wrong people, you become Daredevil’s next target, and suddenly your double life becomes far more tangled than you could ever have predicted.

Set post-S3. Slow burn Matt x Fem!Reader. Chapter one will be posted here on tumblr, but ensuing chapters will be uploaded to AO3. You can read Ch. 1 on AO3 here, if you'd prefer.

Warnings: Description of injuries and profanity.

Most normal people in the city dreamed of being an Avenger. 

You overheard them at work constantly, ever since it became increasingly commonplace for people to crop up with super-strength or freakishly accurate aim with a bow and arrow:

“I actually ran into Spider-Man this morning — the real Spider-Man! I begged him to sign my arm, obviously, because there was no paper around, and he actually did it! Look, right here. I'm going to get it tattooed after work.”

“Well, last night I had a dream that I was recruited by the Avengers. It was absolutely amazing, Debbie — Tony Stark wanted me to be his girlfriend! God, it was fantastic. He even let me try on his Iron Man suit.”

“Oh, I’d give anything to be enhanced. I’d want to be able to fly. Or teleport. Any power, really, if it could get me a one-way ticket to fighting with them.”

“But did you hear my friend got threatened by Daredevil the other night? That red horned suit is gone, though. He’s in that black suit from the days when we called him the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen. I’d love to run into that guy — he’s so strange, isn’t he? Handsome, in a mysterious way.”

At this point in these types of conversations you always tried to tune them out. Their rosy idea of enhanced ignored the things that you saw whenever footage of the Avengers was shown on the evening news. After the battle in New York, they raved about Captain America’s strength, that magic hammer of Thor’s, and the way Dr. Bruce Banner metamorphosed from a man into a monstrous hero, as though it were the best thing in the world to have super-powered abilities.

But when you had watched that footage on the news, after the battle was over, all you saw was the blood. The bodies. The expressions on the Avengers’ faces, of the anguish and turmoil they had witnessed. Being enhanced was a curse, not a gift, and you came to resent the word itself — not for the political controversies it provoked, but for its connotation. In the mouths of anyone else, enhanced was a good thing. 

But you knew. 

As you held the temples of the man lying in front of you, his skin burnt severely from his fingers to his wrists, you knew. 

He writhed, his hands flopping like gasping fish. They were scorched as though in a paisley pattern, leathery and swollen. Second-degree, if not third-degree burns, you thought, as the man jerked away from the light emanating from your own hands, but you kept your grip steady. Slowly the skin began to return to its normal color — splotches fading like they were diluted, heaves of scars sinking back and reshaping as though they had never been there, the energy of his wounds transferring into your hands and through your bloodstream. 

You knew, better than anyone, that every gift had a price.

 

TWENTY-ONE HOURS LATER

It was snowing, yet your hands were blistering. 

The plows hadn’t come through yet, and there wasn’t much foot traffic on this side of Hell’s Kitchen, so the sidewalks were thick with snow. Despite your best efforts to hop in the few existing footprints, snow kept falling down into your boots. Your toes were numb, and your ears felt like they were about to get frostbite; you weren’t dressed for the weather. There hadn’t been time to grab a hat and thicker socks when you left your apartment, because you were more preoccupied with the searing burns that were popping like budding flowers on the palms of your hands. They weren't yet to the severity of the burns you had healed on Lynch's hands the previous night, but it was only a matter of time before they began to worsen. 

Only one more block. 

It was past midnight, and all you wanted was to be in bed, curled up with your pillows and quilted blanket, but just before falling asleep, you’d felt the skin tear open on your hand as though someone were holding a blowtorch to it. It was unnerving. You'd estimated another eight hours, until morning, before the energy you had taken from Lynch's wounds would make itself known.

Clearly I was wrong. You seethed with irritation at yourself and at the fact that Lynch had burned his hands in the first place as more snow collected in your boots. A warm pair of socks would be really, really nice right now.  

But situations like this came with the job, even if most people didn't realize it. Whenever people discovered you were able to heal — and they never truly knew it was you, because you were careful to keep your identity obscure — they assumed it was simple. As though you could just lay your hands on someone’s bleeding wound and it magically stitched itself back up. Poof, problem solved! Sort of like all those Avengers your coworkers persistently chatted about. Yeah, if only healing were as easy as doing a few fancy finger movements to open up a portal into another dimension. Doctor Strange doesn't know how good he has it.

Because fancy finger movements definitely wasn't how it worked for you. It wasn’t even close. 

You inhaled sharply as another burn made itself known, this time higher on your hand. A quick handful of snow against the welt soothed it slightly, but not much, and you picked up your pace down the street.  Your destination was an unassuming brick building, wedged between a hardware store and auto repair shop. LYNCH FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM, read the sign outside, underneath a layer of graffiti. It was one of your closest friends who owned the funeral home, and the previous day he'd sent you an emergency call for help, though you still hadn't heard the story of how he'd burned his hands in the first place. Not that it mattered much. You didn't ask questions very often; healing was your only responsibility. 

There was no one else on the street. There wasn't even much light, because most of the street lamps that weren’t burned out had been buried in a pale coating of frost. Your thoughts turned abruptly to the reports of the so-called vigilante Daredevil, who had reportedly been back on the streets lately. With what you had done in the past, and even with what you were doing now… well, you hoped you never crossed paths with him. Quiet streets like this always made you wonder if today was the day you’d run into him, but it had never happened. Sometimes you wondered if the media simply made him up as a fear tactic to keep crime off the streets of Hell’s Kitchen. 

You hurried inside the funeral home, searching for the only person who you knew would be up and about. Please, be here, please, please…

He was. “Grey,” the man at the desk said, surprise crossing his face when you burst into the crematorium. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

Grey . Just like the word itself, it was ash on your tongue. It wasn’t your real name. Years ago it had been bestowed on you as a code name, a way to keep your identity impersonal from the people you worked with. But it stuck, and now you could count the number of people who knew your real name on one hand. 

“Emergency visit, Thato,” you said, showing him your hands. “I’m sorry. I thought I could manage it until tomorrow, at the very least, but—��� You cringed as another burn blistered forth, erupting on the pad of your thumb. “Ow. Shit.”

Thato got to his feet, wincing in sympathy. “Never apologize for this. It’s not your fault.”

You shook your head. “I should be getting better. Improving… this . And I’m not.” It was true. For years, you had been at this same level. If you healed someone — which wasn’t really healing , if you were being technical; it was more like taking their injury and transferring it elsewhere — you could only hold onto it for a short amount of time. 

Option One was taking that energy from the injury and transplanting it onto someone else — typically, a corpse. You had a strict policy for yourself to never inflict a wound from someone else that you’d healed onto someone who didn’t receive the wound in the first place.

Option Two was just holding onto that energy until it began to manifest itself on you instead. And that was never pleasant. 

Case in point: the damn burns on my hands right now. 

You glanced at the door to the morgue. “Please tell me you’ve got bodies in for cremation?”

“As a matter of fact, one arrived tonight,” Thato said, and he put his hand gently on your back to steer you inside. “Let’s go.”

The morgue was cold. Goosebumps pricked up your arms. Thato worked quickly, and within a minute he was pulling out a storage drawer. A woman, her body pale and lifeless, slid out in front of you. 

Even when the bodies were dead, this was never easy.  You averted your eyes, opting instead to look at the ceiling, and placed your freezing hands on the sides of the dead woman’s head, against her temples. Gradually, after a minute, your hands began glowing — not the yellow glow of the man the newspapers called the Iron Fist, nor the red glow of that Avenger you’d seen on television, Wanda Maximoff. Instead, it was a pale slate color, as though smoke itself had become a source of light. It was this color that earned you your nickname. 

“Grey,” your brother had told you, lifting your chin up roughly to stare you down. 

He wasn’t really your brother, but he might as well have been. You’d known him as long as you could remember. Kane was the one who raised you, who had been with you since... for a long time. “Got it? Here with us, that’s what you’ll answer to.”

“But my name is—”

“No. When you’re with us, you don’t use your real name,” Kane said. Of course, just like your name wasn’t really Grey, his name wasn’t truly Kane. “You use Grey instead, okay? Grey Arztin, if anyone ever asks for a last name.” He handed you forged identification papers. 

“Why Arztin?” you asked, reading the name, and fumbling over the pronunciation of the word. 

“It means doctor, in German. Come with me. I have people for you to heal.”

“But I’m not very good at it.”

“Then you need to practice that ability. It’s going to be your greatest gift someday, Grey.”

The energy pulsed in your own temples as it transferred to the corpse, and slowly you began to feel it drain out of you. There was no comparable feeling to this moment, when the build-up of pain was finally relieved from your mental storage space — your cache, you liked to call it.  And, suddenly, burns just like the ones on your own hands bloomed across the white hands of the dead woman — raw, fiery welts, discolored in the center and streaking from her wrist bones to her fingertips. They were identical to the burns that had stretched across Lynch's hands the day before, down to the charred bit of skin just below the thumb knuckle. When the energy was gone, you dropped your hands, and the smoky glow faded.

The few burns that had already marked your own skin were still there, of course, because your healing abilities could never fix what had been done to your own body — yet another shortcoming of your power — but they wouldn’t get any worse. It was over. 

The corpse was rolled back into her drawer. The family would never know that her hands now bore severe burns that hadn’t been there at her time of death. She’d be cremated tomorrow, Thato assured you. It would be as though you had never even touched her. Guilt curled in your stomach at her desecrated hands. Maybe she had been a pianist. Those hands might have been held by someone else, once upon a time — a mother, a lover, a child. She could have used those hands to climb mountains or type out a novel on a laptop or serve plates of food at a restaurant. 

Now, because of you, they were mottled and burnt. 

“She’s dead,” Thato reminded you quietly, once you were outside of the morgue and back at the funeral home desk. “She’ll be burned anyway.”

“I know.” You played with the edge of the desk. “I just always feel bad. It feels like I’m… spitting on her memory, or something.”

“It’s a price you have to pay,” he agreed. “But it’s in exchange for the good you do, each time you use your skill. You even bore some of the price yourself.” He nodded at the burns scattered across your own hands. “I don’t like to see you feeling bad, Grey. Anything I can do?”

You smiled. “It's okay. You already helped me. Thanks, Thato. Really.” 

I don’t want to keep doing this, you wanted to add. I’ve had enough of all this. The healing, the transferring of the injuries and scars and bruises, the role I’ve played in Hell’s Kitchen. I’m done.

You wanted to tell him, so badly that it made your chest feel tight. Thato had been your friend for as long as you could remember. But if you told him, then your brother would find out, and if your brother found out…

Well, Kane wouldn’t be very pleased with you. He'd see it as a failure on your part, or worse, a betrayal. But it didn’t matter anyway, because you couldn’t leave the organization. Not after everything Kane had done for you, and especially not while you were the one thing that stood between him and death every night that he risked his life. 

You tightened your jacket around your shoulders before heading back out into the night, towards your apartment. You took your time; your earlier exhaustion was gone, and with your hands bandaged now, you were able to appreciate the falling snow as it amassed silently, insulating the streets from the sounds of the city beyond. 

But you might not have had such a leisurely walk back if you’d happened to tilt your head upwards and look at the roofs — if you had been able to hear the footsteps above as someone followed you in the shadows, if you had known the man they called the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen stalked you, having listened to every word of the conversation in the crematorium.

[lady-rose-moon]

Back to Before || Loki x Reader || Chapter one

A/N: welcome to Back to Before! I had a few struggles with this but overall, I am very proud of how this is put together! This first chapter may seem a bit rushed but please don't hold that against me, I did my best ^-^

𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 3.3k

Warnings: mentions of depression, death, fighting

The pod landed, allowing what was left of the Aesir out and into the clear air of Midgard. Thor had set the coordinates for Midgard, directing the pod to Norway where they could settle in a small abandoned town called Tønsberg. It was a simple place, really, and you settled into the restoration of a few buildings, assisting where you could with your seiðr. It was the only way that you could ever hope to be normal right now after the death of your betrothed and the total destruction of your home world.  

The Aesir spent their time rebuilding the buildings, helping one another and opening counselling sessions for the Asgardians that needed it after losing their loved ones to Thanos’s army. Then, days after you’d all settled, people around you began to scream and crumble, reduced to dust floating away in the wind. You were spared along with 50% of what was left of your people and everything got worse once Thor returned. 

You believed that upon Thor’s arrival, he would give the people more help, giving them the motivation to continue their reparations and creation of New Asgard but he merely looked at the gathered crowd, announced that Valkyrie will look over all of the designs and will feed back to him before he walked up to his house and closed the door behind him. 

Appalled, you followed after the God of Thunder, thinking of what could have happened to make him as depressed as he looked at that moment. He had lost Asgard, his brother and his hammer but he still had the love of the people and you as his family! Surely he didn’t believe himself as alone as you could see he did in his brain. 

Rapping your knuckles on the door, you waited a few seconds before knocking again and at that moment, Thor opened he door with a bored expression on his face. “What is it, Y/N?” he asked, his voice monotone and you noted the red rings around his eyes as he looked at you. 

With a grimace, you glowered at him, “what was that back there? You show up here after weeks and then completely ignore us? You put Valkyrie in charge when it should be you out there, helping your people in the aftermath.” 

“What kind of a leader am I, Y/N?” Thor spat, eyes full of guilt and resentment, “I was nothing against Thanos and my people paid the price for it! I saved their lives from Ragnarök only for them to die at the hands of Thanos months later on our voyage here! What does that say about my leadership?” 

“You couldn’t stop Thanos!” you whispered, your hands trembling as you eyed the God of Thunder, “none of that was your fault. That monster had an eye for the Infinity Stones, and nothing was going to get in his way.” 

Thor scoffed and shuffled away from the door, looking as if he was about to close it. “I beheaded the monster, Y/N,” he growled, his temper rising, “Loki was avenged the moment Stormbreaker severed the disgusting man’s head from his undeserving body. That is all I need to know. Thank you and goodbye.” 

With that, the God slammed his door in your face, and you huffed, offended by how rude he was to you after all of the time that you had spent in Asgard’s palace with his family. After a few moments, you realised that Thor wouldn’t open his door to you again, so you turned on your heel and marched away.  

Taking your time to walk through the docks of Tønsberg, you smiled to the surviving Aesir and assisted people with a few odd jobs like painting, using your seiðr to lift heavy materials to buildings and babysitting some children so their parents could go out to sea and fish. You fell into a sort of normality as you helped Aesir needing all the assistance they could get after more than half of them were now lost thanks to Thanos. 

You got yourself a house in the small village, slightly shabby but manageable. It was just a simple two up and down but since it was only you living there, you didn’t really mind. The kitchen was quite small and so was the living room but you knew that it wouldn’t matter in the long run, you’d probably be out on the streets for a lot of the time to help out Aesir families.  

You watched as family after family rebuilt themselves, moving on from their trauma and honouring all those that had been lost in the Snap – the Blip they were now calling it. You wished you could do that yourself but without Loki, you didn’t have anything to fix. Thor wasn’t interested in talking to you, Valkyrie was stressed from running New Asgard and you were there without anything to do.  

Six months into living in New Asgard, you decided that you couldn’t take it anymore and gave your small home to a sorcerer before leaving the small village for the bright lights of New York where you rented an apartment and life continued for a while. While walking around the city, you found a small bookstore where you could easily get a job so you applied and got an email days later saying that you’d gotten the job. 

Work started two weeks later and you grew to like the job, sorting old books and new, selling them off to any customer that decided to come in. The pay was low but you knew you could still afford your apartment if you kept exchanging Asgardian currency for dollars. 

While spending the next five years in New York, you even met somebody new. He was redheaded with chestnut eyes and he was slightly taller than you, he came into your life two years after the Blip when you begrudgingly joined a dating app with your co-worker and after that, a relationship formed but he wasn’t Loki. No-one would ever compare to how wonderful Loki could have been. 

As you watched as Jason walked around your apartment kitchen, you realised that you’d need to talk to him. Over the past few weeks, you’d come to realise that he wasn’t Loki. He’d never be Loki and you couldn’t just keep him around if you didn’t feel the same thing for him. 

So, that night, you sat him down after watching a movie and bit your lip as you gazed down at your hands.  

“Jason,” you whispered softly, looking up at him and freezing when you saw the small smile on his face, “you know what I’m about to say.” 

“I do,” he whispered, standing up soon after with a sigh, walking over to one of the windows and pulling up the blinds to look out at the city. “You don’t love me,” he continued, his eyes trailing over to you, “did you ever love me?” 

You cringed and then nodded. “I did,” you whispered before standing to walk over to him and sighing, “but that spark was there and then it wasn’t. You were amazing, so fun and romantic but… not…” 

“Not your past lover?” Jason asked with a soft smile, reaching up to cup your cheek, hesitating slightly when you leaned back slightly, “I understand. Thank you for at least telling me, lesser women would’ve just abandoned hope without speaking.” 

You bit your lip and looked aside before stepping back and bowing your head. “I’m sorry that this had to end, we had fun,” you tried to smile before sighing and watching him walk to the front door. 

The man stopped at the door and turned to you with a wistful smile. “I hope you find what you’re looking for, Y/N, I truly do,” he whispered before leaving your apartment. 

Now alone in the apartment, you froze and then dropped onto the sofa sobbing. You had spent so much with Jason in your apartment that now it seemed eerily empty and you could hardly move from the sofa as you cried. You missed Loki, missed the old Thor, missed Asgard. You wished there was a way to get there again. 

Months later, two weeks into October, the people who disappeared five years ago reappeared and suddenly, you were fighting a previous owner for your apartment but eventually, you were thrown out of your home in favour of the previous owner.  

Without any option, you returned to New Asgard. The plane journey cost the last of your money and you found that the moment you returned to New Asgard, you were allowed your home back and you settled in quickly. The sorcerer that had lived there after you left had died in a battle against Thanos a week previous. You felt bad to be moving back in so easily but you allowed it anyway – there was no need to be homeless among friends and family.  

Settling in was easier than you expected, unpacking your bags and determining where you would be able to put all of your furniture that you had taken from your apartment. The Aesir were more than happy to help you find your way back into the system of how things worked in Asgard.  

Working one day on the docks, you were happily untying nets when conversation crept up. 

“I wonder how King Valkyrie is handling her new position,” one of the Aesir teenagers spoke up from beside you, unwrapping the wires and weaving them back together. 

“I’m sorry…” you interrupted her with a surprised face, “king Valkyrie?” 

“Oh, you didn’t hear?” the girl replied with a grin, “Thor abdicated and seeing as Prince Loki is dead, Valkyrie was the one that got the throne. He left days ago.” 

Thor abdicated? That was so unlike him but yet… he had changed since 2011 and all of this started happening. You wished that you could go back and change everything so that everything was better. 

With a sigh, you carried on with your work. Your mind was full of questions but you knew that the only one who had the answers had abandoned his people and run away beyond the stars. You guessed he was seeking some sort of familiarity in his travels but that shouldn’t be his priorities when the Asgardians had lost so much already. 

You worked with the people on the docks for a long while until one day, a creature of shadows attacked your home and took the children. Only then did you see the Bifrost activate with Thor stepping out moments later. Your rage bubbled over, but you used it to fight the beasts.  

“JANE?!” you heard over the bustle of battle and you whipped around to see a shattered Mjolnir now whole in the hands of what looked like a female Thor. You dodged an attack and then joined up with the old king of Asgard. 

“Oh great, your girlfriend is back,” you snapped towards the Odinson before turning your stinkeye toward Jane, “maybe you’ll be more competent at being Thor than the real Thor!” 

With that, you took off into the sky, fending off shadow monsters at a pace that you’d forgotten that you’d had. Fighting in Ragnarök was so long ago now that you could barely remember how Asgard looked without it burning and crumbling under the hands of Hela Odindottir.  

The creatures backed off after a while, but the town was still shook by the kidnapping of children alongside their slimy disappearance. You had failed to protect the children from the darkness, but you knew that you couldn’t do anything to stop it, it was always going to happen.  

You retreated back to your small house and sunk down onto the sofa; your arm draped across your eyes as you held back tears. You knew that the Asgardians would be gathering in the city hall right now but your depression caused you to sink deeper into the sofa, unwilling to move unless you had to eat. You missed Loki. You missed your life in Asgard. You wished you could see it all again, go back and see it all again. 

Days passed and you hadn’t heard anything from the Asgardians, figuring that they’d left you to your own devices, knowing you were still painfully mourning your lost lover. They understood, they just dropped off supplies so you didn’t have to leave your home. 

“This isn’t how I thought I’d find Asgard’s best female soldier,” you heard his familiar voice and shot up instantly, face to face with the second son of Odin. His face was covered in debris dust and a trickle of blood was running down the side of his mouth, his neck purple from pressure and you clasped a hand over your mouth.  

“Loki?” you whispered, standing up and reaching out a hand to his cheek only to find that your fingers drifted through his image. You heaved sobs and hung your head. “I miss you, why can’t you just come back like last time?” you whispered through your emotions, you needed to know that this was real, that he was here but you knew it wasn’t real. 

“You need to go with Thor, Y/N,” Loki whispered, his emerald eyes gazing down into yours and you sobbed harder. “Listen to me,” he whispered again, his voice cracking, “your seiðr is strong enough to form an illusion like this but you need to go with my brother. This evil is not to be avoided, my love, you must stop Gor before it’s too late.” 

“I can’t!” you cried, shaking your head, looking around your small home before looking back to Loki, “I want to stay here with you.” 

Loki pursed his lips before leaning close to you and pressing his lips to your temple. You felt nothing, just a small whisper of wind against your cheek and you realised that you couldn’t keep this up, couldn’t wish to stay with this illusion of Loki anymore. Straightening up, you bowed to the illusion of your lover and whispered, “I will make sure that all of those children get home.” 

The illusion smiled before disappearing and once you were left alone again, you were filled with determination and raced to get changed before teleporting to New Asgard’s hospital where your seiðr had indicated that Thor would be.  

“Hey!” you called out as you saw him walking to the grass after his chat with Valkyrie, “Odinson!” 

The God broke his focus to eye you warily. “Y/N,” he whispered uncertainly, eyeing you nervously, “what are you doing here?” 

“I’m coming with you,” you bit out, forming a sword in your hand, “I am Loki’s wife and I am going to stand beside you as you fight for the good of my husband’s kingdom.”  

Thor smiled brightly and brought you close as he gripped Zeus’s lightning bolt and soon, you were transported to what could only be Eternity’s secret hiding place. You looked around in awe as you remembered hearing about this place from Loki over the few years that he was King of Asgard. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Thor shoot forward to save the kidnapped children from being squashed by a falling rock and sighed in relief when you saw that they were all safe.  

Racing over, you checked that they were all okay before watching as Thor blessed them with his power – temporarily, you heard him put in the speech as you snickered. The children around you all glowed with Thor’s power and you activated your seiðr, smirking at Thor before disappearing in a burst of green and reappeared running ahead a few yards away. Gor was within your reach and all that you needed to do was fight those shadow creatures.  

Your sword sliced through so many of them but they just kept coming, summoned by the God Killer as a way to keep you all away but you fought still. You watched as the children fought boldly against the demons and grinned as you tore through the monsters, imagining that you were only training with the brothers in Asgard to distract yourself from any injuries that you might have gotten until you felt a sharp pain through your stomach. 

Looking down, you saw that it was one of the monster’s claws embedded deep into your gut. You dropped to your knees, staring down at the dismembered arm and held your middle, knowing that you couldn’t withdraw your hand without bleeding out quicker. You tried to stand up but your strength was weakened and everything faded to black. 

~~ 

“…N… Y/N… Y/N!” you heard as light came back into view and you saw Thor above you. “I can’t go on, Gor has made it to Eternity and I have to stay with Jane, you have to go on, please.” 

“I’m in.. so much pain..” you whispered brokenly, tears falling down your cheeks, “I’m going to join Loki in Valhalla.” 

“You must stay,” Thor insisted, “I cannot continue fighting when Jane needs me but you can keep moving. I cauterised your wound, do not do any more fighting and you will be able to continue. Please, sister.” 

With a groan, you got to your feet and nodded to your brother-in-law, heading towards the beautiful entrance to Eternity. Once you broke past the barrier, you were surrounded by beautiful blue skies and water beneath your feet and in front of you was Gor knelt before the giant Eternity. 

Standing before the imposing statue of Eternity, your heart raced as you watched Gor attempt to make his wish. 

“Gor, stop!” you yelled across the water, catching the murderer’s attention, “you’re dying. You’ll be reunited with your daughter soon.” 

“And what if I am not?” Gor hissed back, turning to face you with a scowl, “what if I go to damnable fires for my crimes?” 

You had expected this out of him but his question made you freeze. You both wanted what you had lost. Him, a daughter. You, a lover. With a sigh, you approached and watched as he flinched away but you stayed a safe distance away. “You won’t know until you go, I guess,” you whispered solemnly, your eyes full of emotion, “but why wish for her to live when you’ll be with her soon? She’s waiting for you, count on that.” 

Gor hesitated before slicing at you with a growl, “she deserves to live!” 

“What if she wants to live beyond mortal life, in death with you?” you fought back, mindful of your injury hindering your movements, “please, Gor, the gods aren’t as bad as you think. I’m sorry this happened to you.” 

The man hesitated again before stepping away and sighing. “I have wanted this for years,” he groaned, his body weakening by the moment, “for my baby to live.” 

“You will be able to live with her,” you insisted with a small smile, tilting your head slightly, “please… do not get rid of the gods, the mortals truly need us.” 

The man wheezed before dropping to his side and eyeing the sky. “It looks so beautiful,” he whispered before you heard him give his last breath and suddenly you were alone.  

You eyed Eternity and your heart cried. One wish. A fix. You knew this would be hypocritical but you bit your lip and touched the giant ethereal being, “I wish… I wish to go back to Asgard 2011, to fix everything. That is what I wish.” 

Your strength failed you and everything went black, your heart full of hope that you would be able to fix everything. 

After a few moments that felt like hours, you opened your eyes, and turned your head to the side, seeing a mound under the covers beside you. Your heart skipped a beat when you realised it was Loki. It worked. 

You would make sure that everything would be better. You would prevent his death this time.  

@lokisgoodgirl @lokisninerealms @evelyn-kingsley @slpnbty2001 @jennyggggrrr @hahaha12123445 @ozymdias @holdmytesseract @itsybitchylittlewitchy @lovingchoices14 @xorpsbane @huntress-artemiss @muddyorbs @nerdy-fangirl-65 @lonadane @silverfire475 @chantsdemarins @iamsherlocked1479 @kittiowolf210 @just-someone11 @stupidthoughtsinwriting @loki-laufeyson-1054 @fictive-sl0th @coldnique

~~

Fic tags:

@simping-for-marvel @loz-3 @eleniblue @lokiswife-dark-fox-queen @joyfullymassivewhispers @chronicallybubbly @dragonmurray @upnightmanagingloki @vickie5446 @sired-to-hybrid

[reddeliciousauce]

✈ - an eye-opening memory

Your name is DAVE STRIDER, and you are SEVEN years old.

It's another day. Funnily enough, it's one of the few where you aren't constantly getting your ass handed to you in the Houston heat.

Dirk usually took these opportunities to scrounge up food for the house. That was always pretty cool of him. He seemed way better at being a self-sufficient coolguy than you. You suspect he shares his bounty with you to shove it in your face. Well, one day, YOU'LL be the cooler of the two.

As for you, you know what they say. Or rather, what you say solely to yourself for whatever reason: your room's your sanctuary. Basically all that you can take care of, you can do in your room, so there's not even a reason to come out half the time. Unless, of course, you're interested in testing your FRANKLY SHIT ability to not set off traps and get smothered with PLUSH ASS. You'll save that for when you have to piss, thank you very much.

Days like these are for feeding crows, making tunes, and updating your LATE GRANDPA'S WEBCOMIC.

Sweet Bro And Hella Jeff. Truly the greatest inheritance of your short life. The moment you turned six, your BRO shoved you in front of Dirk's computer and schooled you on your legacy of irony and post-surrealism. You enjoyed the movies and web series you were spoonfed by both of your bros growing up, so you were more than happy to take the metaphorical hammer of Thor—or in this case, CAR of DUNKASS—to carry on the single best series ever created.

You pored over the ancient texts, artifacted the shittiest of jpegs, smelted the dankest of panels. Basically, if your grandfather was GOD, you're JESUS FUNKING CHRIST.

You started posting pages a few months after your task was given. And so you've worked, for nearly two years now, at that.

It's something you're pretty proud of, all things considered. It's fun to have something to connect you with your departed g-pa. You wonder if he would be proud if he took a peek at it now. The internet sure has gone nuts over it, so you're basically a natural, right?

Rule one of Striderdom: don't get distracted.

You clearly forgot it. Headphones on, dappling your MSPaint canvas while jamming to some tunes. You basically left yourself wide open.

Doesn't stop you from startling when your door, which you thought you locked, is suddenly as gaping as the asscheeks of a certain jar freak.

You shove your headphones down to your shoulders, face-to-face with Lil' Cal, hanging off your Bro's shoulder. He's right next to you.

You nearly expect a call to arms, but your eyes flick to what he's got. Bunch of letters and packages.

Your mouth asks what all this shit's for. He says it's for you.

Oh. Oh, shit. For real? What the fuck?

Your excitement was too obvious. Lil' Cal's jaw unhinges, clacking about in a silent laugh. Euch.

And just like that, they're both gone. As quick as they came.

...huh!

You fidget a bit with the mail on your desk. YOUR mail. You never got mail before... time to take a look.

Fanmail. SBaHJ fanmail? Yes, SBaHJ fanmail!

Fanart, little trinkets, even a Geromy plush that you don't hate all that much, honestly.

Letters suggesting new strips. Calls for another movie. Compliments on the new work!

Though no bounty is without its curses. Parts of this selection are obviously hate mail.

'New shit sucks. Just kill em off at this point.' Weird.

'Never reading this again! Hella Jeff's favorite color is obviously red, not purple. You clearly don't know what you're doing.' Wait, seriously?

'If the stairs come back I'm killing myself' Huh?!

'We should totally meet up! I'm eight years old too!' One year off! Kind of weird!

'Why haven't you made a statement for or agaibst the Alternian Empire like legitimately you disgust me.' Oh come on...

...wait, is that his address?

You stare at this blatant display of parasociality and, frankly, don't know how to feel. You don't think your lungs are working right.

The price of fame is steep indeed...

[tokiro07]

Undead Unluck ep.8 thoughts

[Coming Down Like the Hammer of Thor]

(Contents: animation)

I'm going to start by saying that this was a better episode than last week's and that I did like it. I want that to be clear

That said, I think I finally understand how to describe what it is that I don't like about Yuki Yase's style, or at least about its application to Undead Unluck specifically: the shot composition

Everything is really zoomed out, so whatever part of the action our eye was originally supposed to be drawn to or was supposed to be emphasized in the manga is just another part of the shot here, which I suppose works fine for conversation-heavy series like Monogatari or Nisekoi, but for a Shonen battle series??? I really don't think that's the right way to go about it

Victor slashing up Spoil in real time was cool, but the final shot of him coming out the other side with Spoil's core didn't have the same impact that I think it should have. Victor kicking and punching Shen so hard that his own limbs broke and immediately healed was rad, but it took up so little of the screen that I had to specifically look for it. Everything also just felt really...slow. In the manga I always feel like everything's happening faster than the eye can see thanks to how Tozuka frames it and how frequently people get taken off guard, but this felt like watching molasses pour

I wonder if that's the price to be paid for getting full animation rather than semi-animated static shots, like perhaps the specific changes in perspective would be too difficult with the level of flow they want to have between frames? I'm not an animator, so I don't know, I just can't help but feel that one of the monkey's fingers has curved into the paw

The red filter was also pretty rough on the eyes. It's dramatic, but not in a way I care for. I think having it for key moments is fine, but having it through the entire back half of the episode feels like a bit much to me

I do like the shot of Victor's arm landing and regenerating though, the reveal of Victor was pretty cool and exciting. I also appreciated that they went out of their way to show the kids getting to safety, that was always a concern with how this fight goes and we only found out in an omake much later that the kids were nowhere near the fight

This episode made it about halfway through chapter 17, though it changed up the order a little bit. With that, we only need to go through a chapter and a half next week to reach a good cutoff for the episode, which should give each scene a little more breathing room. I have high hopes that it will be at least a solid episode if not the best one so far

Overall, I think most people won't have the complaints that I do; the animation is fluid and impressive, the art itself is good and stylized, I just personally don't think it fits with the style of Undead Unluck specifically. I'm always saying that UU has an iconic panel nearly every week, and I don't feel like David Productions is capturing that, but maybe to a non-reader these moments are super cool in and of themselves. I certainly hope that's the case, if I'm the only one with a problem, that's a win in my book

[handsofdarkness]

WITHIN TEMPTATION Teams Up With OPUS COMICS For New Series

Symphonic metal band WITHIN TEMPTATION is bringing its unique vision of the future to comic audiences with a brand new series from Opus Comics based on the group's 2019 album "Resist" and 2021 virtual concert "Aftermath".

Set in the distant future, an endless battle rages between two species — an advanced but inherently humanoid species ruled by a techno-organic matriarch on one side, and a cruel race of alien artificial intelligences on the other. Multiple stories collide to paint a sweeping portrait of the matriarch's life and her struggle to balance what she was created to be with the impossible forces that shape her.

In order to bring this story to the comic book page, the band has teamed up with acclaimed YA author Marieke Nijkamp and heavy metal artist Montos to flesh out their dystopian world.

WITHIN TEMPTATION vocalist and co-founder Sharon Den Adel says: "'The Purge' cover star Genesis has come to life on our stage and in different merchandise designs, and now she will be taking you on the biggest quest of her life — in both our next album as well as in our comic book series.

"Teaming up with Opus for this seemed like the logical decision, as they are a heavyweight in creating comic books and only work with the best designers and storytellers. We can't wait to show you the final result! We hope you'll enjoy it as much as we do!"

The first issue will be available in a limited-edition print run featuring an exclusive numbered foil cover by Agustin Alessio ("Star Wars", "Avengers", "Thor: God Of Thunder") direct from Incendium Online, with a newsstand edition in comic stores this May for wide retail release.

"The symphonic splendor of WITHIN TEMPTATION has always transported listeners to other worlds, and experiencing those songs supported by the incredible set design of recent stage shows and virtual performances presented a wonderful opportunity to explore their futuristic vision with an all-new narrative," says Incendium and Opus Comics founder Llexi Leon. "Today, the battle against AI is suddenly a very real topic, particularly for artists and other creatives, which is reflected in the story of the matriarch and her struggle."

"Within Temptation" #1 is the first in a three-part mini-series at 40 pages long, and is solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors' March Previews catalogue for May release at Opus Comics' signature $6.66 price point. Fans can also buy a numbered limited-edition version of the book with foil treatment.

Legendary leaders of dark anthemic music, with a career spanning two decades and with seven studio albums under their belt, WITHIN TEMPTATION are a genuine force to be reckoned with. Simply, they are one of the world's most successful heavy rock groups. In 2020 and 2021, the band released "Entertain You", "The Purge" and "Shed My Skin", singles that all peaked in the Top 20 of the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Indicator charts and topped the official German charts. The band's work has received numerous international awards, including a World Music Award, MTV Europe Music Awards, a Metal Hammer Award, and many more.

[amusedmuralist]

alabastercloud:

cephiedvariable:

coelasquid:

rosalarian:

dresdencodak:

Seeing as how I’ve done both the top ten for best and worst superhero costume redesigns, I feel obligated to put my money where my artistic mouth is and take a stab at fixing or updating some of these costumes.  I’ve picked five here based on: 

It’s a particularly awful outfit that doesn’t fit the character, or

It’s a solid character who just needs some updating or tweaking

I’ll list these in order of “reboot depth:”

5. Starfire

What’s wrong: In the wake of DC’s “new 52” this felt like a no-brainer.  Starfire is a decent character who’s always, in my opinion, gotten the short end of the costume stick.  I get that she’s supposed to be sexually liberated and somewhat polyamorous, and that’s fine, but dressing like a John Carter’s Princess of Mars-themed stripper doesn’t cut it.  Really, up until the Teen Titans cartoon she’s always been in the most awkward and impractical getups for someone fighting crime.

The Fix: I went for the simple route and took some notes from the cartoon (notably the skirt). I wanted to make sure it kept the bubbly, innocent feeling of the character while also hinting at some power (with the exposed arms here).  The overall effect is meant to convey someone who’s tough, cheerful and comfortable flying around in the air.

4. Dr. Strange

What’s wrong: I love Dr. Strange, but he’s always had the worst outfits.  For a guy who basically hangs out in his house in the West Village, he seems to always wear the most ostentatious getups.  He’s not an alien from another planet or from some culture that would dress that way, he’s a grown man who became a wizard well into adulthood.  Nothing wrong with having some style while you’re maintaining the balance of the mystic planes.

The Fix: Two parts Vincent Price, one part Christopher Lee and one part Dr. Orpheus, this Dr. Strange is still magical, but with a more coherent design direction.

3. Ms. Marvel

What’s Wrong: Simply put, I think it’s embarrassing for Marvel to showcase a prominent character like Ms. Marvel and have her wearing that outfit.  It’s just so tacky, and tells us nothing about the character.  Basically they just changed the colors of Jean Grey’s Phoenix costume and exposed more skin.  Come on, guys.

The Fix: Since her origins are ostensibly tied with Captain Marvel, I decided to go a route that’s more along the lines of the Ultimate Marvel version of that character, where her abilities come from alien technology rather than vague space magic.  The notion that she’s, for example, permanently bound with this technology that she doesn’t fully understand can make for some interesting stories.  There can be some potential with this character again with just a little bit of tweaking.

2. Wonder Woman

What’s Wrong: Wonder Woman, in my opinion, is a character that’s always been on the cusp of being really neat but never quite making it like Superman or Batman.  Although a feminist pop icon, her origins are too tied up with creator WIlliam Marston’s obsession with bondage.  Because of this (and an all-too-frequent parade of poor or sexist writing), she’s never had a solid, progressive design.  The 21st century can update this character.

The Fix: One part Thor, three parts Xena. I’d push the mythological angle further.  Just as nobody thinks of Thor as “Superman with a hammer” I don’t want Wonder Woman to be “girl Superman,” as she’s sometimes seen.  I’ve also tweaked her origin slightly, making her a more literal “statue come to life.” This isn’t as extreme as it seems: in regular canon, Wonder Woman’s origin was that she was formed out of clay by the queen of the Amazons, and imbued with the powers of the Greek Gods.  This, I think offers more story possibilities if she’s less literally human, physically.  Her personality would remain the same (nothing more fun than the perspective of an Amazon in the modern world), but we now have an added Pinnochio-style layer.

The costume change is mostly conservative.  Because of the strong fetish associations (and overall impracticality for a fighting Amazon), I’ve removed the lasso in favor of more traditional Greek weapons.  The overall effect is intended to push Wonder Woman’s core themes further while making her also stand out as more than just “the female superhero.”

1. Superman

What’s Wrong: Since his creation, Superman’s drifted from being a progressive champion for the common man to a patriotic middle-America boyscout who represents the establishment and traditional values. When he was developed in the 30s, Superman was very much a Depression-era hero, mostly going after villains like crooked money lenders and saving people who were being abused by the system.  His superpowers came from the fact that he was from a more advanced society, and his morals too were because he was simply a brainier, more sophisticated guy.  During and following WW2 and into the Cold War, though, he became an official symbol for American values in particular (it was originally “Truth and Justice,” without “the American Way”).  He was now not just an alien, but an alien raised by simple Kansas farmers and his abilities had a more generic “superpower” explanation.  This is all fine, really, but I think the original concept is more compelling these days.

The Fix: ”Superman: the Man of Tomorrow, Strange Visitor from Another World.” I really want to push that.  First off, Kryptonians should actually look like aliens and not white people. Here I have Kal-El from a race of beings who are essentially post-human (in that they’ve long since merged with technology).  They’re strange to our mortal eyes but mean well.  I’d keep the “destroyed planet” origin but more heavily emphasize the “non-interference” part of Superman’s mission statement.  

If you’ll remember from the 70s movie, his father Jor-El told him he was forbidden to interfere with the course of human history, but when you think about it, that’s kind of vague.  What I’ve done is added a Star Trek or Uatu the Watcher kind of prime directive to all advanced species:  Kal-El can’t let people know that he’s an alien, nor can he openly interact with them using advanced technology.  Still, he’s a compassionate guy and wants to help, so he takes the form of “Superman” to inspire the mortals in a constructive way.  Also, the notion that he can take on different forms means that the Clark Kent secret identity need not be as bad as it currently is.

The costume redesign holds to the basic themes but makes it a little more working class.  The buttons at the top are meant to invoke overalls, and the sleeves are cut a little higher for someone working with their hands.  I’ve removed the spandex and gone with looser fitting slacks, while keeping a short cape and boots, since he’s still an adventurer.

Overall I want to evoke a classic Superman feel while making it a little more modern in its exploration of the sci fi themes.  He’s still basically the same guy:  an alien from another world looking to fight injustice, but without the overt patriotism and a quirkier execution of the secret identity.

*********************

So there you have it.  I’ve hope you’ve enjoyed my superhero costume trilogy!

Part 1: The Best Superhero/Villain Redesigns

Part 2: The Worst Superhero/Villain Redesigns

That Superman is… probably the best redo of Superman I have ever seen, both in looks and backstory. Bravo!

cool stuffff

The Starfire is a no brainer, the Dr. Strange is my new unrequited fictional crush, the Wonder Woman is breath-taking and that take on Superman is one thousand degrees of shit I didn’t know I wanted but I would be so comfortable if they uprooted over 70 years of comic book history to change him into this.

[vapehk1]

The Boulder Vape Experience: A Cloud of Fun and Flavor

In the world of vaping, where choices abound and flavors delight, the Boulder Vape stands out as a true game-changer. Whether you're a seasoned vaper or just curious about making the switch, this nifty device promises a fun and flavorful journey. Join us as we dive into the Boulder Vape experience, where humor meets high-quality puffs! The Device - Small But Mighty The Compact Powerhouse When it comes to vaping devices, size often belies power, and the Boulder Vape is no exception. This sleek, pocket-sized gadget packs a punch! Don't let its small stature fool you; it's designed to deliver robust, satisfying clouds with every puff. Imagine having a mini storm cloud in your pocket, ready to unleash flavorful vapors at your command. It's like having Thor's hammer, but for vapers! User-Friendly and Stylish Apart from its powerful performance, the Boulder Vape is also a style icon. Available in a range of colors, it's a fashion statement as much as it is a vaping device. And the best part? It’s incredibly user-friendly. Even if you're all thumbs, the Boulder Vape ensures that your vaping experience is smooth and hassle-free. It's as if someone took the guesswork out of vaping and replaced it with pure, unadulterated enjoyment.   Flavor Explosion - Savor Every Puff A Symphony of Flavors One of the most delightful aspects of the Boulder Vape is the explosion of flavors it offers. From classic tobacco and refreshing mint to exotic blends like tropical fruit medleys and dessert-inspired concoctions, there's a flavor for every palate. Each puff is a journey, a little vacation for your taste buds. It's like having an entire gourmet restaurant menu condensed into tiny, delightful clouds. Consistency is Key Vapers often lament the inconsistency of flavors in various devices. Not with the Boulder Vape! This device prides itself on delivering a consistent flavor experience from the first puff to the last. No more worrying about burnt tastes or flavor fade. With the Boulder Vape, every inhale is as flavorful as the one before, ensuring a satisfying experience every time. Think of it as the reliable friend who always has your back (and your taste buds). Convenience and Portability - Vaping on the Go The Perfect Travel Companion The Boulder Vape is the epitome of convenience. Its compact size and lightweight design make it the perfect travel companion. Whether you're heading to work, hitting the gym, or embarking on a weekend adventure, this device slips effortlessly into your pocket or bag. It’s like carrying your own personal cloud maker, ready to turn any mundane moment into a vapor-filled delight. Easy to Maintain Maintenance can be a deal-breaker for many vapers, but the Boulder Vape shines in this department too. With simple, straightforward instructions for cleaning and refilling, it ensures that you spend more time enjoying your vape and less time fiddling with it. It's as if the Boulder Vape read your mind and decided to make your life a little bit easier. Imagine a device that practically takes care of itself – a vaper’s dream come true! Part 4: Value for Money - Quality Without Breaking the Bank Affordable Excellence Vaping can be an expensive hobby, but the Boulder Vape offers a high-quality experience without breaking the bank. Its affordability is a pleasant surprise, especially considering the premium features it boasts. It's like finding a gourmet meal at a fast food price – pure joy for budget-conscious vapers. With the Boulder Vape, you get the best of both worlds: top-notch quality and wallet-friendly pricing. Long-lasting Battery Life One of the most impressive aspects of the Boulder Vape is its long-lasting battery life. No more running out of power just when you need a puff the most. This device is designed to keep up with your vaping habits, ensuring that you’re never left high and dry. It's like the Energizer Bunny of vapes, always ready to go and go and go. With the Boulder Vape, you're guaranteed a reliable companion that won't let you down. Conclusion In this article, we explore the Boulder Vape, a standout device in the vaping world known for its compact size and powerful performance. This user-friendly gadget offers a stylish design and a consistent, flavorful experience with every puff. With an array of tantalizing flavors, it transforms each inhale into a delightful journey for your taste buds. Its portability and easy maintenance make it the perfect travel companion, while its affordability and long-lasting battery ensure you get premium quality without breaking the bank. The Boulder Vape truly brings fun, flavor, and convenience to the forefront of vaping. FAQs 1. What Makes Boulder Vape Different from Other Vaping Devices? Boulder Vape stands out due to its compact size, powerful performance, and user-friendly design. Unlike many other devices, it offers a consistent flavor experience from the first puff to the last. Its affordability and stylish design make it a popular choice among vapers. 2. How Long Does the Boulder Vape Battery Last? The Boulder Vape boasts an impressive battery life designed to keep up with your vaping habits. On a full charge, it can last an entire day, depending on usage patterns. This long-lasting battery life ensures that you're never left without a puff when you need it. 3. What Flavors Are Available for Boulder Vape? Boulder Vape offers a wide variety of flavors, catering to all preferences. From classic options like tobacco and mint to more exotic choices such as tropical fruits and dessert-inspired blends, there's something for everyone. This extensive flavor range allows users to explore and enjoy new tastes regularly. 4. Is the Boulder Vape Easy to Maintain? Yes, the Boulder Vape is designed with ease of maintenance in mind. It features simple instructions for cleaning and refilling, ensuring that even beginners can manage it without hassle. This convenience allows users to spend more time enjoying their vape and less time maintaining it. 5. Is Boulder Vape Affordable? Absolutely, Boulder Vape is known for offering high-quality vaping experiences at an affordable price. Despite its premium features and performance, it remains wallet-friendly, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious vapers who don't want to compromise on quality. Read the full article

[linuxgamenews]

Tiny Thor work through through challenging levels via Steam Play

Tiny Thor retro platformer game launches on Proton for Linux with Windows PC. Asylum Square has worked tirelessly to create an amazing experience, alongside testing to ensure everything is just right. Available on Steam, GOG, and Humble Store. Gameforge has teamed up with a small developer called Asylum Square to bring you Tiny Thor. It's a 16-bit pixel platformer, so it offers that old school look from the past with solid graphics and pixel art. In Tiny Thor, you get to play a character who is a young god with a mighty hammer, mini-Mjölnir. With this mighty hammer, you'll go on a magical adventure through 36 levels. Since each level has a different world that you have to explore, filled with enemies and puzzles to solve. To defeat the baddies and overcome obstacles, you'll need to use your hammer in clever ways. You can throw it at enemies and objects, and it will bounce back to you. It's like a boomerang. This comes in handy when you need to hit things that are far away or hidden behind walls. You'll have to aim true and figure out the best way to use your hammer's powers.

Tiny Thor - Release Trailer

As you progress in Tiny Thor, you'll come across big boss battles against famous characters from Norse mythology. Such as the Kraken and Loki. Thre are tough challenges that are due to test your skills. One of the features about Tiny Thor is that it has an old-school feel to it. The graphics are created by an artist who's been making pixel art for a long time. So it has that retro look that some people really love. And the music is due to give you that nostalgic feeling too. So get ready to step into the shoes of the mighty, solve puzzles, defeat enemies, and have a blast in the magical world of Asgard. It's time for some hammer-swinging, puzzle-solving action! Enjoy the retro platformer game. Right now, you can play Tiny Thor via Windows PC. But according to Asylum Square, "it works fine with Proton", via Linux. Available on Steam, GOG, and Humble Store. Priced at $17.99 USD / £15.07 / 17,99€, including the 10% launch discount.

[leanstooneside]

ALSO A PRESIDENTIAL NAME

- you are a wise rascal

- he is ThunderLord

- He is a shrewd giant

- they are ugly fellowsthe dwarfs

- Now this is the end

- they are your friends

- all. Which is very true

- It is a pity

- his is the swiftness

- Here is a new chain

- Thor; they are cunning jewelers

- it is likely. You

- It is an ill day

- You are too generous

- It is a costly price great Thrym

- he is without his magic weapon

- Heimdal's plan is a good

- wonder is how he

- hammer is mine he

- gifts are best his

- there are few folk I fancy

[iloveabunchofgames]

1/29 - Week In Review

#JakeReviewsItch Week In Review Archives

This week's reviews: 🧡🧡🧡🧡🤍 2000:1: A Space Felony 🧡🧡🤍🤍🤍 a completely normal dating simulation that is definitely sweet, innocent and normal 🧡🧡🤍🤍🤍 A Dance of Fire and Ice 🧡🧡🧡🤍🤍 A Mortician's Tale 🧡🧡🤍🤍🤍 A Day In the Woods 🧡🤍🤍🤍🤍 A e r o c r a f t 🧡🧡🧡🤍🤍 A Forgetful Loop

Game of the Week

Video games. Space. How many times have we seen this chocolate-and-peanut-butter combo? We've piloted and landed spacecraft, and lord knows we've zapped an alien or two, but you know what you don't see very often beyond the digital atmosphere? Due process of law.

Oh, you know what? Frog Fractions. I almost forgot about the courtroom scene on Bug Mars. Fine, so 2000:1: A Space Felony or How I Came to Value My Life and MURDER Mercilessly. isn't the first or the best game to remind us that law and order are the bedrock of society, even beyond the confines of national and planetary borders, but it is a game about gathering evidence and presenting a solid argument in the case of Fake HAL 9000 v. An Entire Spaceship's Dead Crew. Give it a try. It's short, it's free, and it's easily the best Itch game I played this week.

QubicGames

The early days of Nintendo Switch were the best. See, the best way to get visibility on the eShop was for a game to sell a lot of units, and the best way to sell—short of making a good, well-marketed game that people wanted play—was to put a game on sale for a couple cents. The sale would end, and the game would still be on the best-seller list alongside the big-budget blockbuster. Additionally, depending on one's system settings, owning a game from a publisher might enable that publisher to push advertisements to the owner's Switch News section. Shady tactics, but for those of us who kept up with sales, those were great times. Sure, most of the games I downloaded were trash, but the prices were so low, and there were enough pleasant surprises, that it was usually worth rolling the dice. Nintendo got wise, though, and quietly implemented some policy changes. Now, you'll rarely see prices dip below $1.99. And that's why the latest QubicGames sale is a big deal. Now through the middle of February, most of their lineup is available for just 50¢ a pop. (You won't see the sales prices in the eShop unless you own at least one Qubic release. Fortunately, Coloring Book is currently free. Claim it, and then watch the prices melt.) Qubic is actually really cool about breaking the $1.99 barrier. I snagged several games for 99¢ just a few weeks ago, which felt like a smokin' hot deal. If only I'd known. They also have a history of briefly making a handful of games free in December.

I'd love to tell you a little bit about all the games I recommend, but there's a problem: We're not talking about the kind of cheap eShop garbage described above. I have player 39 Qubic games, and most of them are pretty good. Some of them are all-time classics at any price.

The most efficient purchasing advice I could offer is a ranked list.

A Ranked List of the 39 QubicGames Games I Own

BIT.TRIP BEAT

BIT.TRIP VOID

Tharsis

BIT.TRIP FATE

BIT.TRIP RUNNER

BIT.TRIP CORE

BIT.TRIP FLUX

LOUD

Pocket Pool

Pocket Mini Golf 2

One Strike

REKT! High Octane Stunts

Puzzle Book

Good Night, Knight!

Pudding Monsters

Dungeon Top

Akane

Zombie Blast Crew

Space Pioneer

Door Kickers

Chex Quest HD

Rimelands: Hammer of Thor

Akuto: Showdown

UTOPIA 9 - A Volatile Vacation

Coffee Crisis

Warlocks 2: God Slayers

Gravity Rider Zero

Timothy and the Mysterious Forest

#RaceDieRun

Wondershot

Coloring Book

Koloro

Escape Doodland

Mini Trains

Pocket Mini Golf

Mana Spark

Robonauts

Wreckin’ Ball Adventure

Eyes: The Horror Game

I'd be happy to talk about any of these in more detail, but they're so cheap! I keep futzing with the order of this list, but all you need to know is that the top 11 are fantastic. You can safely skip 29-39, although the only one that's outright bad is Eyes: The Horror Game. The rest deliver at least $0.49 of entertainment. Peep the store pages and see what matches your interests. There are still a few gaps in my Qubic knowledge, so take a look at the sale page if you're into, I dunno, boxing and sausage. (Ugh. Do I need to buy the sausage games?) Yuck, I sound like such a shill. To be clear, I'm not getting paid for this, nor do I have any other incentive to promote these products. I just really love those BIT.TRIP games.

#JakeReviewsTwitch is a series of daily game reviews. You can learn more here. You can also browse past reviews…

• By name • By rating • By genre

[ailelie]

"The Death of Bowie Gizzardsbane" by John Myers Myers from Silverlock

​Harsh that hearing for Houston the Raven: Foes had enfeebled the fortress at Bexar, Leaving it lacking and looted the while Hordes were sweeping swift on the land, Hell-bent to crush him. The cunning old prince Did not, though, despair at danger's onrushing; Hardy with peril, he held it, perused it, Reading each rune of it. Reaching the facts, He thumbed through his thanes and thought of the one Whose guts and gray matter were grafted most neatly. "Riders!" he rasped, "to race after Bowie!" "Bowie," he barked when that bearcat of heroes Bowed to his loved prince, "Bexar must be ours Or no one must have it. So hightail, burn leather! Hold me that fortress or fire it and raze it. Do what you can or else do what you must."

Fame has its fosterlings, free of the limits Boxing all others, and Bowie was one of them. Who has not heard of the holmgang at Natchez? Fifty were warriors, but he fought the best, Wielding a long knife, a nonesuch of daggers Worthy of Wayland. That weapon had chewed The entrails of dozens. In diverse pitched battles That thane had been leader; by land and by sea Winning such treasure that trolls, it is said, Closed hills out of fear he'd frisk them of silver. Racing now westward, he rode into Bexar, Gathered the garrison, gave them his orders: "Houston the Raven is raising a host; Time's what he asks while he tempers an army. Never give up this gate to our land. Hold this door fast, though death comes against us."

The flood of the foemen flowed up to Bexar, Beat on the dam braced there to contain it. But Wyrd has no fosterlngs, favors no clients; Bowie, the war-wise winner of battles, Laid out by fever, lost his first combat, Melting with death. Yet the might of his spirit Kept a tight grip on the trust he'd been given. "Buy time, my bucks," he told his companions. "Be proud of the price; our prince is the gainer." Bold thanes were with him, thirsty for honor, Schooled well in battle and skilled with all weapons; Avid for slaughter there, each against thirty, They stood to the walls and struck for their chieftains, Houston and Bowie, the bearcat of heroes.

Twelve days they ravaged the ranks of the foemen. Tens, though, can't harrow the hundreds forever; That tide had to turn. Tiredly the thanes Blocked two wild stormings and bled them to death. The third had the drive of Thor's mighty hammer, Roared at the walls and rose to spill over, Winning the fort. But the foemen must pay. Heroes were waiting them, hardy at killing, Shaken no whit, though sure they were lost. Ten lives for one was the tariff for entry; And no man got credit. Crushed and split skulls, Blasted off limbs and lathers of blood Were the money they soughted and minted themselves -- Worth every ounce of the weregild they asked.

Of every eleven, though, one was a hero Turned to a corpse there. Cornered and hopeless, They strove while they yet stood, stabbing and throttling, Meeting the bear's death, dying while fighting. Chieftains of prowess, not chary of slaying, Led and fell with them. Alone by the wall, Travis, the red-maned, the truest of warriors, Pierced through the pate and pouring out blood, Kept death marking time, defied it until His sword again sank, sucking blood from a foeman. Content then, he ended. So also died Crockett, Who shaved with a star and stamped to make earthquakes. Kimball, the leader of loyal riders, Bonham whose vow was valor's own hallmark.

Crazed by their losses, the conquerors offered No truce to cadavers; the corpses were stabbed In hopes that life's spark would be spared to afford them Seconds on killing. Then some, taking count, Bawled out that Bowie was balking them still; Like weasels in warrens they wound through the fort, Hunting the hero they hated the most. Least of the lucky, at last some found him, Fettered to bed by the fever and dying, Burnt up and shrunken, a shred of himself. Gladly they rushed him, but glee became panic. Up from the grip of the grave, gripping weapons, Gizzardsbane rose to wreak his last slaughter, Killing, though killed. Conquered, he won. In brief is the death lay of Bowie, the leader Who laid down his life for his lord and ring giver, Holding the doorway for Houston the Raven,​​ Pearl among princes, who paid in the sequel; Never was vassal avenged with more slayings!

[dollslayer]

Botanical Interest - Thorns

Soft!Mob!Steve Rogers x reader

Summary: After dating the notable mobster Steve Rogers for a couple months you think you’ve got him figured out. An altercation in an alley leaves you questioning whether or not that’s true. 

W/C: 1995

Warnings: Violence, angst, fluff, swearing

A/N: Holy smokes! I am completely overwhelmed by the love that the first part to this story has received. Obviously, I couldn’t help myself so I wrote a part 2 also as an entry for @stargazingfangirl18 ‘s 5k soft dark challenge! Using the Mob!Au and the dialogue prompt “Oh, Honey, you weren’t supposed to see that”.

If you want you can check out part one here and my other mob fic here! Cheers!

Botanical Interest Masterlist I Main Masterlist

______________________________ 6pm was fast approaching as you began to close up shop for the day. Steve was here to pick you up for dinner and much to your embarrassment walked in on you having a very difficult conversation argument with a very difficult customer over pricing and promotion. Having run your small business on your own for years you knew how to hold your own but you completely froze when you saw Steve enter the shop out of the corner of your eye. 

“I- listen Mr. Andersen, I appreciate all the business that your venues have given me but I can’t afford a raise in advertising prices right now. I’ve been reliable and trustworthy and I’ve always treated your venues with respect. I’ve never been an issue for you, please don’t raise the rate. Wedding season is coming up and I need the exposure.” 

You tried to bargain with him quietly, hoping the music overhead would prevent Steve from hearing but it was a low volume and a small shop. You’ve only been dating for a couple months. You didn’t want to embarrass yourself in front of him, especially not at work. 

Mr. Andersen exhaled sharply. You could tell he was annoyed at you for the pushback. “Look, I’m sorry but we can’t be making exceptions every time a business owner comes groveling.” 

Tears stung your eyes, you really did generate a lot of business through Andersen’s venues. They listed you as one of their recommended vendors to their clients, it’s been huge for you. Knowing that Steve was there made this even worse. “If I’d have known you were going to cry like this I would’ve just done it over email I mean really-”

“That’s enough.” Steve cut him off before he could humiliate you any further. He sent a quick text and shoved his phone back in his pocket before pulling himself to his gull height and squaring his shoulders. “You’ve done enough, now get out.”

A scoff from Andersen and a harsh glare directed towards you and he was on his way out of the building. Steve’s phone vibrated but he didn’t check it. Instead he walked over to you and extended his arm to rub your back. 

“Are you okay? That guy was a total fucking prick to you, you don’t deserve that.” Steve consoled you. He seemed calmer than you expected for having just witnessed something like that. You’ve seen him agitated but never upset. Maybe he was restraining himself for you but it didn’t matter, you appreciate him being there for you. 

“I’m fine, I just need to finish closing up shop and we can get to dinner. Just give me a minute” you said as you began to sweep up. 

“Alright, sweetheart. I’m double parked so I’m gonna go to the car and try to find a space.” You nodded as hummed along to the music. 

____________________________

As Steve left the shop he pulled his phone out and checked his text from Thor ‘we got him’. When Steve heard that man talk to you like that he knew you didn’t want him to threaten Andersen and make the situation worse. You were already on the verge of tears so he decided to ask one of his men to hold Andersen out back where he could have a few words with him. 

Stepping around the corner into the alley behind your shop he took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. He needed to be quick so you wouldn’t find out. He didn’t want to upset you further, he just wanted this guy to know that you can’t treat his girl like that. And maybe he could be talked into giving her the advertising for free.

“So you think you can talk to my girl like that huh?” He questioned. Andersen looked like Thor had already punched him once in the process of restraining him. Thor’s hold on Andersen’s arms tightened. 

Andersen was scared, but not scared enough to Steve’s liking. Before Andersen had the opportunity to answer Steve cocked his fist back and launched it directly to Andersen’s jaw. “Shit! I’m sorry, I didn’t know. We’re expanding and we need the money so I have to raise-”

Before the excuse could be finished Steve hit him again. “Stop! Please!” Andersen begged.

Steve chuckled. “No I don’t think I will. I can’t just let people go every time they grovel to me. They’d never learn.” Another punch landed. 

“You’re not gonna raise your prices for her. In fact, you’re gonna call her up in a couple days and apologize by offering her advertising free of charge for all of your venues. Do you understand?” Steve asked coolly. 

Andersen coughed up some blood. “I- I can offer her half price but I can’t just waive the cost like that!”

“Not good enough.” Steve punched him even harder, Andersen was nearly knocked out. Steve thought about the tears that slipped from his girl’s eye and couldn’t stop himself. He struck Andersen one more time with a growl and his head hung limp between his shoulders. Just then he heard the sound of shattering glass behind him and froze, hand still in a fist. 

_____________________________________

Finally done with most of your tasks all you had to do was take out the garbage and empty the vase of leftover stems from bouquets into the dumpster. You opened the back door just in time to see Steve land a brutal punch to Mr. Andersen’s cheekbone. Mr. Andersen’s head fell and it was clear he had been knocked out cold. 

You hadn’t even realized you’d dropped the vase until you felt the shards fall around your feet. You couldn’t look away when Steve looked up at you with wild eyes, you’d never seen him so angry. You felt the way you did the day you met him. Nervous and frozen in place.

His face instantly fell and through his heavy breathing said “Oh, honey, you weren’t supposed to see that.” He was trying to relax his features as he approached you but you could only take steps back and into the shop like a scared animal being cornered. 

Your heart was hammering in your chest and you couldn’t tell if you were more angry or scared. You held your hands out in front of you and stammered “I’d better.. I need to lock up shop I’ll um, I’ll go”. “Sweetheart wait!” Too late. You shut the back door and locked it behind you. 

You went to your back office and sat down, not even sure where to go from here with this. You two had talked about his work a bit, it wasn’t like it could be avoided forever, you just didn’t think he’d bring it into yours. You weren’t scared of Steve doing something like that to you, you were scared of that look in his eyes. His capability of doing something like that with little thought.

Oh, God, what does this mean for the shop? Mr. Andersen will have you blacklisted. He’ll tell every wedding planner in Brooklyn. Now your heart was hammering for a whole other set of reasons. Too busy spiraling as you thought about it all you didn’t hear the bell of the front door ring. 

A knock on your open office door pulled you out of it and you looked up to find Steve. He wore what looked like a truly regretful expression on his face. You fought the urge to yell at him. You’re an adult, you’re going to talk about this like adults. Let him say his piece. 

He had straightened up, his hands were clean and his jacket was back on. He gave a heavy sigh. “Sweetheart, I don’t even know where to begin. I’m sorry you had to see that side of me, but I want you to know I would never ever do anything like that to you or anyone close to you. I only want what’s best for you.”

“And that’s punching one of my main sources of income?” You snapped. You appreciated the apology but you were getting too worked up in anger thinking about the future of the shop.

He was a little miffed at the outburst and became defensive. “That man disrespected you, disrespected your work. No one talks like that to my girl. That’s how we settle things in my world!” 

“Well you’re not in your mob world right now you’re in mine! And things don’t get handled like that! Do you have any idea the toll that could take on my business? He’s gonna have me blacklisted by the end of the day if he wakes up.” The last words came out a bit broken as you felt more tears build. You were more worried about the business than anything. 

Steve walked around the desk to console you just like he had not twenty minutes ago. He gently put a hand on your forearm. “You’re right. It’s not my world, it wasn’t my call to make and I had no right to react like that. I didn’t even think about that. The way he was talking to you, I just.. I got so mad. You work so hard and you don’t deserve that. Sometimes I forget there’s more than one way to handle things.”

Okay, that went better than expected. This is what made Steve so interesting to you. Steve was funny and sweet and charming as hell, but beyond all that there was this tender heart. He was dangerous but he was also fiercely loyal. He was more than a mobster and he was better than the brute force he used. It’s why you were able to accept that part of him, because it wasn’t his entire life, it didn’t consume him.

“Thank you for saying that,” You said quietly. You looked up to him and could tell that he really did feel bad. “I accept your apology and I appreciate it. But you have to make things right with Mr. Andersen. I’ll pay the new rate but you have to apologize before it’s too late.”

_________________________

Steve was beginning to harbor resentment towards himself for fucking this up for you. Andersen just made him see red, he has such a hard time shutting that part of himself down. You work so hard and care so much there’s just no way he could let that stand. He just hoped to work through it and move on. He really didn’t wanna screw it up.

Steve was much more at ease knowing you accepted his apology. “I won’t like it but I can do that. It’s only fair. Can I make it up to you over dinner? We’ll make a quick stop to the hospital to set things straight with Andersen.” When you shut the door in his face in the alley he had Thor take him to the hospital. He’d call another town car to get home. 

He’ll apologize to Andersen and pay the hospital bill, but you’re not paying the increased rate. No way. Steve will pay him off enough that he won’t be telling anyone about the altercation, either. Win-win in his eyes.

You leaned your head against his shoulder in slight exhaustion and nodded. “Can we forget the reservation? I really want breakfast food right now.”

A soft chuckle escaped his lips. “Of course sweetheart, you wanna get takeout and go back to mine?” He felt you nod. “Yes, please”. 

“Let me just order a car and we’ll be on our way. I’m sorry again, sweetheart, I promise I’m gonna make it right even if that guy’s a douche.” You laughed a little bit and wiped the few tears that stayed in your eyes.

“So.... your girl, huh? Is that like some mob slang term I don’t know about? Are we official?”

A smile graced his lips. “I’d like to be, if you would.” 

You smiled back at him. “I might be persuaded with waffles.” 

[blackypanther9]

The Spook - Loki x Reader (Marvel x Fnaf Crossover)

Part 2 - Meet Dominic

They stormed into Fury’s Office and Fury looked up from his work, staring Loki down instantly.

“Director Fury, I come with a favor.”, Destiny said professionally.

“What is it, Agent Dust ?”, he asked.

“I need to go back to the Pizzerias. All 5 or so Locations and will be gone for over a month and a few weeks. I wanted to ask, if Loki can tag along. I will need his perspective of things, his sharp eyes in case I oversee something, his mind and ideas in case something goes wrong and if my ‘Coworker’ is lying to me, Loki will know first. He would be a great help and he can have a chance to prove himself.”

Fury stared at Destiny and then at Loki.

“How can you be sure, to trust him that much ?”

“Everyone deserves a second chance. I got it, Nat, Clint, Thor, Bruce, heck even Tony got one. Why not Loki too ? It is only fair. His Title doesn’t mean that he is pure evil.”

Fury was very silent, then he sighed.

“Fine.  He is allowed to have this Mission with you. But just to be safe for both of your sakes, take Thor with yourselves.”

Destiny frowned.

“Why Thor ? I could also take Clint.”

“Because Thor has the Hammer and can knock everything and everyone down. If what you said is true, you will need his help.”

Destiny scoffed, but said nothing and nodded. Then she turned on her heel and left the office. Loki close behind her.

“Trust issued asshole….”, Destiny growled.

“No one trusts me. You should have known that.”, Loki said quietly.

“It is not really you. The rumors about these places are really bad and…disturbing.”

Loki looked at Destiny in curiosity.

“Now… Get dressed. A suit will do just fine. Trust me. Your armor would only make your life miserable in that place. Something…is not right in that place…”

Loki nodded and was off to his room. Why didn’t he use Magic ? He is not allowed to use it in the Tower for now. Destiny just did the same, she put on her SHIELD Uniform and then was off to Loki’s room.

Loki just stepped out as Destiny arrived and she led him to the Avengers Assemble room. Everyone was there and with that Destiny took a deep breath.

“Alright. You may be wondering why exactly I called you here. I take Loki and Thor on a Mission with me, for over one whole month. I go to all these different Pizzeria Locations again. I don’t like it too, but I have to, sadly and I need brains, a Lie detector, a survivor and someone who has sharp senses. Loki is perfect for that. Thor is just the third wheel, because Fury thinks we will need him.”

They all stared at Destiny with open jaws.

“Are you sure you can trust him  ?”, Tony asked.

“I am not, but I want to try.”

“You got tricked once already. And that was your best friend until he went missing.”, Nat said.

“That wasn’t him. That was something else that lived INSIDE of him. I trust Loki enough to take him on a Mission. I trust him with my life, because I don’t think that he wants to die. So just trust me on this.”

“It is too dangerous. What if they are still there ?”, Steve said.

“Then we have to deal with it. That is exactly what we want. Them to be there.”

“This is Madness. Do you wish to die ?”, Clint asked irritated.

“I have to.”

“What for ?”, Bruce asked then.

Destiny looked away.

“My friend wasn’t himself once before all of these rumors started…. He was forced to do a huge mistake and I want to clean it up for him. Even if he will never return to me.”, she said.

“To what price ?!”, Tony yelled.

“He is my friend !!! If I can’t find him, then I will at least clean his messes up !!”

“Why did he run away ?”, Bruce asked.

“I am not sure. He never believed in these rumors. But on the other side…he went through enough and maybe he left for a fresh start. I don’t blame him.”

“You never told us who he was.”, Nat deadpanned.

“I know. I still won’t tell a soul.”

Then Destiny looked at Thor.

“Get dressed. Simple clothes will do. At night…weird shit happens and your armor will just be in the way for yourself.”

Thor looked at Destiny in confusion and worry, but did as told fastly. He went to his room and redressed himself, then he returned to Destiny and Loki’s side….with his Hammer.

“I don’t think Mjolnir is a good idea, but what do I know…”, Destiny mumbled.

She turned to Loki.

“Do you have your daggers ?”

Loki nodded.

“Good.”

Destiny looked at the rest.

“We will be off now. If we don’t return after a month and 2 weeks, we either are not finished with everything, or we are dead and died as Daredevils. Try to find us, if we are dead. Please. I want a Coffin and Grave with a Gravestone.”

“We will try.”, Tony said.

“Go into every Location at day, then nothing will happen to you.”

They all nodded. With that Destiny snapped her fingers and was gone with Loki and Thor.

Loki, Thor and Destiny suddenly stood in front of a Building and it was night.

“There you are ! I was worried you wouldn’t make it.”

“Heya, Dominic. I said I would come, didn’t I ?”

“You did.”, Dominic chuckled out.

“Loki, Thor this is Dominic. Dominic, these are Loki and Thor.”, Destiny introduced them.

“Nice to meet you two !”

“Likewise.”, Loki said.

“Hello Dominic !”, Thor boomed.

“Thor inside voices, or else we will be dead because of you in 2 seconds.”, Destiny scoffed.

“Sorry…”, Thor excused himself.

“No problem. Are you ready ?”, Dominic asked Destiny.

“Ready ? You will never be ready for something like this. But I dare to do this.”, Destiny said.

“Alright. I would lie, if I would say that I am ready, because I am not.”

“Before we go, what is going on in there ?”, Loki asked.

“You will see, Loki. Patience…”, Destiny told him.

“Alright…”, Loki said carefully.

With that they stepped inside the Building.

Masterlist Here !

[broomsick]

“Thor has two he-goats, that are called Tooth-Gnasher and Tooth-Gritter, and a chariot wherein he drives, and the he-goats draw the chariot; [ … ]. He has also three things of great price: one is the hammer Mjöllnir, which the Rime-Giants and the Hill-Giants know, when it is raised on high; and that is no wonder, it has bruised many a skull among their fathers or their kinsmen. He has a second costly thing, best of all: the girdle of might; and when he clasps it about him, then the godlike strength within him is increased by half. Yet a third thing he has, in which there is much virtue: his iron gloves; he cannot do without them when he uses his hammer-shaft.”

Snorri’s Prose Edda, Gylfaginning, stanza 21: ‘Of Ása-Thor’

Art by Sceith-A

(Old norse text):

“The mountains shake, and surely I think | from his home comes Hlorrithi now | he will silence the man who is slandering here | together both gods and men.”

Lokasenna - Loki's Wrangling, stanza 55